Chayka is a former junior hockey player who was later a
co-founder
of Stathletes, a Canadian company that uses video to
statistically analyze professional hockey. That led to a position
as an assistant GM with the Coyotes starting last summer.

The promotion is being seen as a clear indication that
the Coyotes are going all-in on analytics in what could be viewed
as the "Moneyball" of hockey.

However, co-owner Anthony LeBlanc, when talking last month
about the hiring of Chayka as an assistant GM, noted that the
team still wants to maintain a balance between analystics
and traditional team-building.

"We definitely want communication and collaboration and
we’re a strong believer in new trends that are emerging in
sports, analytics being a part of that," LeBlanc told the media
(via Yahoo Sports). "I come from the
technology world. Most of the partners come from the finance
world. This is a big part of our lives, and we believe in
it.

"[Chayka] has absolutely been a very impressive hire. A
very poised young man – mature beyond his years. He’s been an
incredibly positive addition to this organization. I really got
to witness it first hand when I sat in the war room in Pittsburgh
for trade deadline. Just the sheer amount of knowledge he brings.
But at the end of the day it’s not like it’s a new thing in
sports – it’s obviously been well documented, the importance of
analytics. But it’s not the be-all-end-all. I’m not sitting here
saying we’re going to turn ourselves into a Wall Street firm and
have 25 kids here doing numbers, but I think there’s a fine
balance and that’s what we’re trying to find."

Interestingly, the Coyotes were also reportedly interested
in hiring another analytics wiz kid, 30-year-old Kyle Dubas,
an assistant general manager with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
However, he said he is not ready.

"Very bluntly put, I don’t believe I’m ready to be an NHL
general manager," Dubas told the media (via Sportsnet).